WASHINGTON – With less than a month left before the World Cup starts, national team coach Bruce Arena is viewing this week’s three final tune-up games as a means to an end and a chance to tinker, not a measuring stick for what kind of team he has. That will be decided next month in Korea.

The U.S. plays rugged Uruguay today at RFK Stadium. After Uruguay – their eighth World Cup-bound foe this year – the U.S. plays Jamaica Thursday at Giants Stadium and highly-touted Holland next Sunday at Foxboro.

“There’s nothing to read into in these three games. The whole focus is on June 5, that’s when our game should be judged. We’re not at our best, but we’re making progress. I’m happy with the guys’ fitness,” said Arena, who’d criticized Clint Mathis’ fitness last week, despite the MetroStar forward’s five goals in seven U.S. games this year.

But at yesterday’s practice, Arena said that Mathis has worked himself into shape, and hinted that his public critique was intended to motivate the 25-year-old star.

Mathis, who suffered a torn ACL last June 5 and just returned to the U.S. starting lineup March 2, sees these games as a chance to play himself into World Cup-shape.

“I do need to get to a higher level. It’s been a long time since I’ve trained with the national team. You can’t compare MLS to international soccer,” said Mathis, who’s been fit enough to be flown cross-Atlantic to talk to Bayern Munich and Perugia, and get overtures from AC Milan, Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

“I know what I need to do. You can run around out here until you’re blue in the face, but an international game is a different level. These games will help me get to [that] level,” Mathis said.

They’re shorthanded today, with midfielders Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien and Eddie Lewis and goalie Kasey Keller all with their European clubs. Landon Donovan replaces Reyna as the playmaker, and Brad Friedel starts in goal.

Arena will pay particular attention this week at right back, where Carlos Llamosa has a pulled hamstring. Still, Arena knows they’ll be judged not this week but in how they improve upon 1998’s last-place World Cup finish.